St John’s U-10s set standards at Drumaness Blitz

Sat 28th August 2004 Blitz at Drumaness

Many thanks to Drumaness for inviting us to this blitz along with Loughinisland, Teconnaught, Saul, Dromara and the hosts. We had a good hour’s football in three 20 minutes games before leaving to see the Under-14s in action in their Championship final. So we didn’t get to play Dromara or Drumaness, but hopefully we’ll meet up with both again before too long.

St John’s 0-05 v 1-03 Loughinisland

First up was Loughinisland and St John’s started like a train and clearly had the better of the first half. They were 4 points up at half time thanks to the accuracy of Patrick Keenan, Kevin Keenan, Conor Gilmore and Philip Brennan. They also shot 3 wides and hit the post during this period. Conor Savage, Darren Morgan and Michael Keenan got through a lot of hard work to create the chances for others while Colm Kelly, Nicole Noade, Rory Doyle and John Girvan did much to stop Loughinisland getting through for a single chance.

St John’s started the second period with another point but Loughinisland began to take control and close the gap. When Loughinisland scrambed a goal to go with their opening point it was suddenly game on. Although both sides attacked whenever they could St John’s were guilty of playing too much individual football so that the player was either crowded out and tackled or blown up for over-carrying. Loughinisland moved the ball better and that was the difference in the end as they notched up a further two points to scrape ahead at the final whistle.

Lesson to be learnt – PASS THE BALL!

St John’s 6-02 v 2-02 Teconnaught

It soon became apparent in this game that although Teconnaught had several talented footballers in their midst they were a younger and smaller team than St John’s (I haven’t said that too often!). St John’s had raced into a commanding 3-01 lead before Teconnaught managed their first point, and led by 3-02 to 1-01 at the interval. Patrick Flynn, Patrick O’Neill, Amy Doyle, Channan Savage and Niamh Flanagan all took advantage of the occasion to play good football.

St John’s introduced some younger players in the second period with Jerome Gordon, Neil Savage and Aidan Morgan showing the talent that is there in the Under-8 squad. Their presence wasn’t detrimental to the team as they went on to stretch their lead and to “win the second half” by 3-00 to 1-01.

St John’s 4-03 v 1-03 Saul

The scoreline might not suggest it but this was the toughest match of the day. St John’s opened the scoring with two points before Saul began to press. Their first chance went wide but they soon pointed. Then they were awarded a penalty by referee Conor Lavery. Saul netted from this, which proved to be the last score of the second period although the sides did exchange wides.

St John’s went into the second period in very determined mood and with the half forward line (all three Keenans in a row) dropping back a bit so that they could receive passes from defence. This allowed St John’s to move the ball quickly up the field whenever a Saul attack was broken up. The hard work and good football played by Philip Brennan, John Girvan, Channan Savage, Patrick Flynn and Colm Kelly in their own half were critical in winning this game. The score of the day came when Philip Brennan disposed a Saul forward and Channan Savage played the loose ball onto Colm Kelly. Colm Kelly in turn played the ball onto Darren Morgan wide on the right of midfield. His clean catch allowed him to transfer the ball quickly to Kevin Keenan who netted before the Saul defenders knew what was going on. This left the scoreline at 2-03 to 1-01 and after that Saul heads began to drop.

St John’s Squad: Hugh Flanagan, Nicole Noade, John Girvan, Colm Kelly, Michael Keenan (0-01), Rory Doyle, Conor Gilmore (1-01), Philip Brennan (2-01, 1f), Conor Savage, Channan Savage, Darren Morgan (1-00), Kevin Keenan (4-04, 1f), Patrick Keenan (2-02), Amy Doyle, Patrick Flynn, Patrick O’Neill, Niamh Flanagan, Jerome Gordon, Neil Savage (0-01), Aidan Morgan.